Ore-concentrating process and apparatus



E. H. EMERSON.

oRE CONCENTRATING PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3.15MB. 1,31 1,882. Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. H. EMERSON.

ORE CONCENTRATING PRGCESS AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.3. ma.

1,31 1,882. Patented Aug. 5,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. Y., A CORPORATION .0F MARYLAITD.

ORE-CONCEN TRATIN G PROCESS AND APPARATUS.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it .known that I, EDWARD HOPKINS EMERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Lakes, county of Morris, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrating Processes and Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

his invention comprises improvements in the froth-flotation process of ore separation or concentration, and the apparatus for conducting that process. The objects of the invention are efficiency and economy of operation, and cheapness and simplicity of the apparatus and its maintenance. In broad contemplation the invention is applicable either to general or to selective froth-flotation, and to the practice of the froth-flotation principle of separation or concentration in many various aspects and phases with all manner of ores, liquors, frothing agents and selectivity agents, an'd the like. The accompanying drawings illustrate two specific adaptations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatig elevation of a series or battery of separators;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged corresponding view of the two uppermost separators of the series and the feed box, and shows the second separator in vertical midsection;

Fig. 3 is a still more enlarged corresponding mid-sectional elevation of the hydro-air in'ector employed with each separator;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of a modified series of separators; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of Itwo of the separator units of Fig. 4.

n shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ore pulp is suitably constituted and prepared for the froth-flotation process of separation or concentration, for instance by any desired admixture of liquors and frothing .agents with or without selectivity-modifying agents, and is then delivered to a feed box 4 at the head of an inclined trough 5 supported on a suitable structure 6 and forming a concentrates launder emptying into a concentrates box 7. In the concentrates trough 5 are placed a battery or series of separating vessels or barrels 8 mounted at successive levelsl on "steps 9. In the conduct pf the process the mineral-carrying froth Wlll overflow the Specification of Letters Patent. Application led August 3, 1918.

that embodiment of the invention Patented Aug. 5, 1919. Serial No. 248,123.

barrels and run down the The pulp runs from the bottom of the feed box 4 through a pipe 10 into the top of the first separator 8 wherein the pulp is subjected to aeration and a itation and consequent froth flotation ofI a portion of its mineral constituents which are carried in a concentrates froth which overflows the barrel, and runs down the trough 5.. Supplemental water is fed through the pipe l1 into the top of this barrel and effects therein the necessary agitation and aeration, and about compensates for the amount of circuit liquor overflowing from the barrel in the form of a concentrates froth. The tailings flow upward from the bottom of the first barrel through a connecting pipe 12 into the top of the next lower separator barrel, in the manner of pulp inflow to the first barrel, and in the second barrel the aeration, agitation, and froth-fiotation of concentra-tes are repeated as in the first barrel, the aerating water being likewise supplied through a second pipe 1l. Thus the pulp flows through the entire series of separators from the top barrel to the bottom one whose final tailings are discharged through the pipe 13; and each separator barrel delivers its overflowing concentrates froth to the trough 5 and thence to the box 7; while the common pressure main 14 supplies aerating and agitating water to all the separators through their respective jet pipes 1l and control valves 15.

The aerating and agitating operation of each separator may be described with reference to the second barrel, shown in section in Fig. 2. The injector cap 16 is screwed on the jet pipe 11, and the injector cup 17 is screwed into this cap and has air-inlet holes 18. The injector tube 19 is suspended by its flaring upper end in a central hole in the bottom of the cup 17. The barrel is surmounted by a feed-pan 20 supported on legs such as 22, one of which isformed Into a boss 21 making a connection for the pulp intake pipe 12. A fall pipe or pulp-intake pipe 23 is screwed into a around the central hole in the feed pan, and the injector tube 19 hangs centrally in this fall pipe. An agitation bafle 24 is' secured in thebarrel below the fall pipe 23, on a spider which spans the barrel.

The pulp from the connecting pipe Y12 trough 5 into the depending hub formed tation necessary flows over the feed pan and through its fall pipe 23 into the barrel, and the liquid level in the barrel is above the lower end of the fall pipe.

The discharge end of the jet pipe 11 is constricted to form a small water jet directed into the flaring upper end of the injector tube 19 and entraining a downward flow of air which is supplied through the inlet holes 18. The resulting mixed Waterand-air jet is discharged from the injector tube`19 through the fall pipe 23 into the pulp body and against the baie 24, Whereby the intaken air is broken and mixed with the pulp to form the mineral-carrying froth which overflows the barrel between its pansupporting legs, while the tailings flow from the bottom of the barrelr through its loutlet pi e 12 into the next separator.

ln that practice of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, each separator unit comprises two barrels 8 and 25. The barrels 8 are the same as the barrels 8 of Figs. 1 and 2, but their feed pans 2O are supported on annular metal crowns 26 which hermetically seal the barrel tops, and from each barrel 8 the aerated pulp flows through a connecting pipe 27 into its companion barrel 25. A baiie 28 prevents a direct iow of pulp from the pipe 27 through the barrel 25 to the pipe 29 leading to the next separating unit, so that the aerated pulp is subjected to froth-flotation separation in each barrel 25 from which the mineral-bearing froth overflows.

Manifestly the invention accomplishes the general advantage of introducing the stream of thoroughly mixed air and water (e. g. from the pipe 19) ,into the pulp-stream on its way to the agitator and separator (e. g. in the intake-pipe 23). Also, in the adaptations shown, the hydraulic driving yforce of the air-and-water stream is utilized to propel the commingled air-and-water and pulp streams violently into the pulp body, and against a baille, to effect the agito form mineral-carrying bubbles, while also assi-sting gravity in propelling the pulp through the series of units.

As is well known in the art air is 'usually the most available and cheapest bubble forming gas but may in some instances be replaced by an equivalent gas, and the Word air, as used in the following claims is intended to include any such equivalent gas'.

The general principles of the invention may be applied in different specific ways by artisans and technicians in the course of practice, and adaptations of the general idea may be devised by supplemental invention, all within the generic definitions-and scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. The process of ore concentration which cmisists in producing a stream Q mixed air bined air-and-liquid and pulp streams, and

projecting the combined streams violently into a body of ore pulp in the presence of a mineral-frothing agent in a manner to distribute air through the pulp and agitate the pulp to form a mineral-carrying froth, and separating the froth. j

2. The process of ore concentration which consists in producing a stream of mixed air and liquid, conveying said air-and-liquid stream at high velocity into a stream of ore pulp so as to impart velocity to the combined air-and-liquid and pulp streams, and projecting the combined streams violently into a body of ore pulp in the presence of a mineral-frothing agent in a manner to distribute air through the pulp and agitate the pulp to form a mineral-carrying froth, and separating the froth; and deriving another pulp stream from said pulp body and similarly conveying a second air-and-liquid stream into said second pulp stream so as to impart velocity thereto and similarly projecting the resulting combinedair-and-liquid and pulp streams into a' second body of ore pulp so as to again agitate and aerate and form mineral-carrying froth, and separating the froth.

3. Froth-iotation ore-concentrating apparatus comprising a `hydro-air conduitl an means for forcing a stream of mixed air and liquid through said conduit so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom,

an agitationvessel adapted to agitate and toireceive ore pulp and to receive the stream of mixed air and'liquid delivered by the hydro-air conduit and to have velocity imparted by such air-and-liquid stream to the combined streams delivered by it and to deliver its contents at high velocity into said agitation vessel, and means for removing resulting mineral-carrying bubbles.

4. Froth-lotation ore-concentrating apparatus comprising a hydro-air conduit and means for forcing a stream of mixed air and liquid through said conduit so that it will be delivered'at high velocity therefrom, an agitation vessel adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowing stream of aerated pulp, a-pulp-feeding fall-pipe projecting downward into said vessel so as to deliver its contents to said vessel, the hydro-air conduit being arranged t0 deliver its air-and-liquid stream into the pulp in the fall-pipe so as to impart velocity tothe combined air-and-liquid and pulp streams delivered by the fall-pipe into the agitation vessel, and means for removing resulting mineral-carrying bubbles,

5. Froth-lotation ore-concentrating apparatus comprising a hydro-air conduit and means for forcing a stream of mixed air and liquid through said conduit so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, an agitation vessel adapted to agitato and -aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flow- -delivered by it and to deliver its contents at high velocity into said agitation vessel,

vand means for removing resulting mineralcarrying bubbles.

6. Froth-lotation ore-concentrating apparatus comprising a hydro-air conduit and means for forcing a stream of mixed air and liquid through said conduit so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, an agitation vessel adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowing stream of aerated pulp and having a baffle arranged in the path of said pulp stream, a pulp-feeding fall-pipe projecting downward into said vessel so as to deliver its contents to said vessel, the hydro-air conduit being arranged to deliver its air-andliquid stream into the pulp in the fall-pipe so as to impart velocity to the combined airand-liquid and pulp streams delivered by the fall-pipe into the agitation vessel, and means for removing resulting mineral-carrying bubbles. y

Froth-flotation ore concentrating apparatus comprising an agitation vessel adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowing stream of aerated pulp, a source of supplemental liquid under pressure7 a hydro-air injector operated by liquid from said source to project a stream of mixed air and liquid so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, a pulpintake conduit for said agitation vessel arranged to receive ore pulp and to receive the stream of mixed air and liquid delivered by the hydro-air conduit and to have velocity imparted by such air-and-liquid stream to the combined streams delivered by it and to deliver its contents at high velocity into said agitation vessel, and means for removing resulting mineral-carrying bubbles.

8. Froth-flotation ore-concentrating apparatus comprising an agitation vessel adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowing stream of aerated pulp and having a baille arranged in the path of said pulp stream, a source of supplemental liquid under pressure, a hydro-air injector voperated by liquid from said source to project a Stream of mixed air and liquid S0 that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, a pulp-feeding fall-pipe projecting downward into said agitation vessel so as to deliver its contents into said vessel and arranged to receive the stream of mixed air and liquid delivered by the hydro-air vconduit and to have velocity imparted by such air-and-liquid stream to the combined streams delivered by it and to deliver its contents` at high velocity into said agitation vessel, and means for removing resulting mineral-carrying bubbles.

9. Froth-flotation ore concentrating apparatus comprising an agitation vessel adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowing stream of aerated pulp, a hydro-air conduit and means for forcing a stream of mixed air and-liquid through said conduit so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, a pulp-intake conduit for such agitation vessel arranged to receive ore pulp and to receive the stream mixed air and liquid delivered by the hydro-air conduit and to have velocity imparted by such air-and-liquid stream to the combined adapted to agitate and aerate an ore pulp by the action of a flowinostream 0f aerated pulp and having a baille arranged in the path of said pulp stream, a source of supplemental liquid under pressure, a hydro-air injector operated by liquid from said source to project a stream of mixed air and liquid so that it will be delivered at high velocity therefrom, a pulp-intake conduit for said agitation vessel arranged to receive ore pulp and to receive the stream of mixed air and liquid delivered 'by the hydro-air conduit and to have velocity imparted by such air and liquid stream to the combined streams delivered by it and to deliver its contents at high velocity into said agitation vessel, and a separating vessel arranged to receive the pulp from the agitation vessel and adapted to separate mineral-carrying bubbles by flotation.

11. Froth-lotation ore concentrating apparatus comprising an agitation yessel, a pulp feed box thereon,a pulp-feeding fallpipe extending down from the feed box into the vessel, a source of supplemental liquid under pressure, a hydro-air injector operated by liquid from said source and arranged to deliver its contents into the fall-pipe, a baffle in the agitation vessel arranged in the path of the pulp stream from the fall-pipe, and means fer ,removing mineral-carrying bubbles,

in the path of the pulp Stream from the fall- 10 pipe, and a. separating vessel arranged to re-l ceive the pulp from the agitating vessel and 'adapted to separatev mineral-carrying bubbles by flotation.

In testimony whereof I have aHiXed Iny 15 signature to this specification.

EDWARD HOPKINS EMERSON. 

